Window latch assembly



INVENTORS 0. STORLIE M. NORTHRUP TTORNEY Filed nec. 16, 196e v .mi ww mw M m. N* IPI? Feb. 4, 1969 1 o. sToRLlE ETAL I WINDOW LATCH ASSEMBLY LLEWELLYN LYLE United States Patent O 3,425,164 WINDUW LATCH ASSEMBLY Llewellyn O. Storlie and Lyle M. Northrup, Decorah, Iowa, assignors to Deco Products Company, Decorah,

Iowa

Filed Dec. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 602,375 U.S. Cl. 49-450 Int. Cl. E05d 13/04; E05c I/12 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a window latch assembly, and more particularly to an improved means for releasably securing window sash frames at different positions relative to the master frames.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of an extremely simple window latch which through its interacting parts is held together as a complete assembly independently of the window to which it is attached.

Another object of the invention resides in a novel cornbination of a housing and -nger latch which together retain a captive spring securely in position but yet allow the spring to be easily removed from the assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a window latch assembly which is economical to produce and assemble.

'Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the specification.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a back plan View of the window latch assembly,

FIG. 2 is a sectional View of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2 2 of FIG. 1,

JFIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is the back view of FIG. 2 showing a crescent shaped opening in the bottom of the latch housing, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the retaining pin in the latch housing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the latch assembly is designated by the numeral and includes a housing member 11, a retractable finger 12, and a biasing spring 13.

In use, the housing 11 is attached to the sash or window frame with the face shown in FIG. 1 against the sash. The retractable finger 12 engages suitable notches in the master frame to hold the window in an open position, or in the alternative, latch it in a closed position.

Specifically, the housing member 11 may be made by die-casting or molding and includes a base or back wall 14 ('FIG. 2) and right angle sides 15 which together define a channel 16.

Extending upwardly from the base 14 adjacent a crescent shaped opening therein (RIG. 4) is a retaining pin 18 (-FIG. 5). VThe top 19 of the pin is buttonlike and larger in diameter than the base 18 of the pin. Actually, the top 19 is coextensive with the crescent shape of the opening 17, and offset to the one side of the pin.

As such, the top 19 is very easily die-cast or molded by a complementary crescent shaped mold pin in the mold which extends through the opening 17 during casting. Thus no secondary heading or forming operations are required as one side of the mold is made to allow the metal to flow on the top of the mold pin to form the head 19.

3,425,164 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 ICC The base 18 of the pin is complimentary to the inside concave area defined by the crescent shape of the mold pin. Thus, the head 19 overhangs the pin for about 270 with the back of the base 19 blending with the back of the pin '18 (FIGS. 3 and 5). As shown in FIG. 2, the top of head 19 is generally as high as the side walls 15 although this may be varied depending on the application.

With reference now to the `finger 12, such member nests in the housing channel 16. As shown in FIG. 1, the finger 12 has a slot 20 therein parallel to channel '16 which is narrower than the Width of the head 19, except in an area 21 wherein the slot widens out to allow the head 19 to be inserted therethrough for assembly purposes.

One end of the finger 12 may be beveled as shown by the dotted line 23 in lFlIG. 1 to engage a notch in the master window (not shown) to lock the window in the desired position.

The opposite end of the finger latch has a projecting tab 24 (1F-IG. 3) which may be engaged by the ones thumb or finger to retract the latch bolt to the left as Shown by arrow X to disengage the window from the master frame and allow it tofbe moved upwardly or downwardly. Afterwards, the spring 13 again forces the iinger into latching position.

To urge the latch finger 12 in the direction of the arrow Y in FIG. 1, spring 13 is nested in the slot 20. The spring has one end retained in the assembly by nesting under the overhanging ledge 25 in the finger (FIG. 3) and has its other end nested against the pin 18 and under the head 19.

yIn assembly, the latch finger 12 is placed above the channel 16 in the housing 11 with the wider portion 21 of the slot registering over the head 19. Then by pressing downwardly on the latch finger, it will slide into the channel with the pin `18 projecting through the slot portion 21. The finger 12 is then moved to the right in the direction V in FIG. 1. The pin head 19 now overhangs the narrow portion of the slot 20 thereby slideably retaining the finger 12 in the channel 16.

At this time, one end of spring 13 is inserted under the overhanging ledge 25 of the dinger which serves as a retaining means and against the end 26 of the slot 20. The other end of the spring is then compressed and inserted -under the pin head 19. Thus the spring and assembly are interlocked together as a unitary structure which may be transported and secured to a window frame without hav ing the spring 13 and finger 12 disengage themselves from the housing 11. In the reverse, the assembly may be taken apart easily to replace any broken elements.

While various means may be employed in attaching the latch assembly to a window sash frame, the present device utilizes an arm 27 which may be inserted in a channel of an aluminum window frame member.

Another feature of the invention is the concept of the die-cast mold to form the headed pin or other undercut area without the necessity of secondary forming, machining or special secondary retractable (core-pulling) mold pins. The shape of the mold, for example, can be readily visualized from FIGS. 3 and 5 wherein it is obvious that the mold shapes to form the housing 11 and pin 19 will be complementary to such shapes. A crescent shaped mold pin would extend upwardly through the opening 17, and would be retracted when the mold parts move apart to release the molded piece. Obviously this can take on other shapes and forms.

What we claim is:

1. A slide bolt latch assembly for releasably securing a window sash frame in different positions relative to a master frame comprising,

a latch housing for connection to said sash frame, said housing have a channel therein including a back wall,

a retractable latch finger moveable within said channel into engagement with said master frame, said retractable latch finger having a slot therein,

means for retaining the latch finger in said channel, said means for retaining said latch finger in said channel including a pin extending upwardly from said back wall and through said slot in said retractable finger, a head on said pin ofi-set to a side of a spring, spring holding means, said holding means including means on said latch finger for retaining said spring on one end and means on said latch housing for retaining said spring on its other end, said spring acting to retractably urge said latch finger toward engagement with said master frame.

said pin, said slot in said finger being parallel to said channel and narrower than the head on said pin with a portion of said slot being wider than the head on said pin to allow said finger to be inserted into said channel with said pin projecting through the slot of said finger and with the head of said pin overhanging a side of said slot in said finger except in said wider portion thereby allowing said latch to be slideably retained in said channel,

a spring,

spring holding means, said holding means including means on said latch finger for retaining said spring on one end and means on said latch housing for retaining said spring on its other end, said spring acting to retractably urge said latch finger toward engagement with said master frame.

2. A slide bolt latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spring is nested in said slot with one end engaging said pin under said head and the other end of said spring engaging said :retaining means in said latch finger.

3. A slide bolt latch assembly for releasably securing a window sash frame in different positions relative to a master frame comprising,

a latch housing for connection to said sash frame, said 4. A slide bolt latch assembly for releasably securing a window sash frame in different positions relative to a master frame comprising,

a latch housing for connection to said sash frame, said housing having a channel therein including a back wall,

a retractable latch finger moveable within said channel into engagement with said master frame, said retractable latch finger having a slot therein,

means for retaining the latch finger in said channel including a pin extending upwardly from said back 'wall adjacent an opening in said back wall, and a head on said pin ofi-set to a side of said pin to coextensively extend over said opening in said back wall,

a spring,

spring holding means, said holding means including means on said latch finger for retaining said spring on one end and means on said latch housing for retaining said spring on its other end, said spring acting to retractably urge said latch finger toward engagement with said master frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,764,441 9/1956 Marko 292-173 lvilcililsing having a channel therein including a back 3,083,419 4/1963 Pennington et al 49 450 3,129,470 4/ 1964 Schneider 49-450 a retractable latch finger moveable within said channel into engagement with said master frame, said retractable latch finger having a slot therein,

means for retaining the latch finger in said channel including a pin extending upwardly from said back wall in the middle of a crescent shaped opening in 40 said back wall, and a head on said pin ofi-set to a side of said pin to co-extensively extend over said crescent shaped opening in said back wall,

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

I. KARL BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

